Suspension device for vehicles with traveling tracks



Sept. s, 1925.

E. RIMAILHO SUSPENSION DEVICE FORA VEHICLES WITH TRAVELING TRACKSorigina Filed Jan. 31,' 1925 2 shun-shut `1 Sept 8, 1925.

. RlMAlLHO SUSPENSION nEvIcE Fon VEHICLES WITH TRAVELIQG 'rRAcxs 2sunto-fam a Origins; Filld Jau. 31, 1923 O O O O O O O O O O 0.0

Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILE RIMAILHO, OIF-PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO COMIAGNIE DES FORGES &AGIERIES DE LA MARINE & ITHOMECOURT, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES WITH TRAVELING- TRACKS.

Original application filed January 31, 1923, Serial No. 616,192.Dividede and this application led .Tune 27, 1924. Serial No. 722,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE RrMArLHo, a citizen of the Republic of France,and residing at Paris, Seine Department, No. 12 Rue de la Rochefoucauld,France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SuspensionDevices for Vehicles with Traveling Tracks, of which the following is aspecification.

This application is a divisional of my pending application `Serial No,616,192 tiled Jan. 31, 1923.

The present invention refers to vehicles with traveling tracks in whicha suspension device comprising pneumatic jacks permits distribution oithe load among the several carriages which bear upon these tracks,whatever the inequalities of the ground may be, and to thus considerablyreduce the wear ot' the parts especially during fast running.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of a traveling track device on the axis of oneof the pneumatic jacks.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the pneumatic jacks removed.

Fig. 3 is a lengthwise. section on the axis oit' the conduit of one ofthe pneumatic jacks, in the case in which the jacks are connectedtogether.

Fig. 4 is a like section of the conduit of a separate jack.

Fig. 5 is an elevational side view, partly in section, of an endlesstrack comprising 'three suspension pneumatic jacks insulated the onefrom the other.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view in which all the pneumaticjacks of both traveling track devices are connected together and to anair compressor driven by the engine.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a pneumatic ack coniposed of a cylinder 8 above whichis a chamber 6 of larger diameter' having eXtending therein the upperpart of the. cylinder which is united to said chamber, and also of apiston and its piston rod 11 which eX- tends below the cylinder.

By the usc of said chamber 6 of large diameter one can obtain asuilicient volume of air with a less space occupied in the verticaldirection than if the cylinder 8 was extended to show the same volume.

The chamber 6 is provided with a filling and connecting conduit 45. Asleeve 33 is mounted upon lthe combined cylinder and chamber in a knownmanner, for example with a bayonet iitting, and it has an eX- ternalscrewthread so as to screw into a nut on the frame of thetraveling'track device.

The bottom of each piston rod, Figs. 1 and 5, bears upon a ball 35disposed within a cross-piece 16 journalled a't the ends in two likerocker arms 36 which are independent of each other, on an aXis passingthrough the centre of the said ball. The rocker arms have at each endthe rollers 32 by which the said arms are caused to bear upon thetraveling carriages 29.

The said` carriages, which as stated are enabled to rise and also to beinclined in the lengthwise and the transverse direction, have theircheeks terminated at the top by contact edges 29a which remain incontact with the grooved rollers 32 in all positions of the carriage. Bythe use of the rocker arms, only one-half the number of jacks areemployed as are used in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and theflexibility of action of the traveling tracks is also augmented. on theframe of the traveling track above each rocker arm will serve in case ofinsufiiciency of a pneumatic jack, or should it be put out of use, toprovide a temporary elastic suspension until the jack can be replaced.

In order to remove one of the pneumatic jacks, it is unscrewed by actingdirectly upon the screwthreaded sleeve 33 secured to the same. Duringthis operation the piston rod 11 gradually moves out to the end of thestroke. When the unscrewing is carried out, this will entirely releasethe said jack. For the mounting of a jack, the reverse process iscarried out, and one acts upon said sleeve in order to screw the jackrinto place. During the mounting and removal, the suspension jack willserve in a certain measure as an ordinary screw jack, and no otherlifting device is required when replacing one of the jacks.

The conduit Figs. 8 and 4, essentially comprises a duct 38 provided witha clack valve 39 for retaining the air; according as the jack isisolated or is connected with a The plate springs 37 mounted f conduit,the said conduitis closed, Fig. 4; by a screw plug 40, or it isextended, Fig. 3, by a union 41 connecting it with the conduit 7 andprovidedwith a control rod i2 for maintaining said valve in the openposition.

Fig. 5 shows in mixed lines a conduit 7 serving to connect together allthe jacks of a given traveling track device; said conduit may beeliminated and the jacks can be made independent of each other, theirside necks being closed by the plugs 40. The jacks may be connectedtogether in groups according to any desired combination.

In Fig. 6 the jacks of both traveling track devices are all connectedtogether and also to a compressor 48 driven by the engine 44.

Claimsl. A suspension device for traveling tracks, comprising carriagesbearing upon traveling tracksk and vertically movable, movable pistonsbearing upon the said carriages, cylinders having the said pistonsslidable therein and adapted to receive a fluid under pressure actingupon the said pistons, the connection between the frame or" thetraveling track device and each suspension element being effected bvmeans of a sleeve secured to said elements and screwed into a supportwhich is attached to the frame.

2. A suspension device for traveling tracks, comprising carriagesbearing upon the traveling tracks and vertically movable, movablepistons bearing upon said carriages, cylinders having the said pistonsslidable therein and adapted to receive a iuid under pressure actingupon the said pistons, and a ball disposed between each piston and eachcarriage.

3. A suspension device for traveling tracks, comprising carriagesbearing upon the traveling tracks and vertically movable, movablepistons bearing upon said carriages, cylinders having the said pistonsslidable `therein and adapted to receive a fluid under pressure actingupon the said pistons, every cylinder having thereupon a cylindricalchamber ot larger diameter wherein the top oi" the said cylinder isadapted to enter, the said chamber being connected to the other cylinderand to a source of compressed air.

4. A suspension device for tracks, comprising carriages bearing upon thetraveling tracks and vertically movable, movable pistons bearing uponsaid carriages, cylinders having the said pistons slidable therein andadapted to receive a fluid under pressure acting upon the said pistons,and a cross-piece connecting two carriages together and serving as asupport for the said piston,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention`r I have signedmy name.

EMILE RIMAILH.

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